GameSpy has an interview with Dr. Judith S. Stern, a professor of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at the University of California-Davis regarding the health benefits of Wii Fit. It comes as no surprise to me that she feels Wii Fit does not offer the health benefits it claims to offer.

GameSpy: So the basic idea behind Wii Fit, where using it will help lower your BMI, you’re saying it’s unlikely?

Dr. Judith Stern: It’s unlikely. You really have to exercise a whole lot, and also you have to eat less.

GameSpy: But starting an exercise routine based around Wii Fit or integrating it into your existing exercise routine could help, no?

Dr. Judith Stern: Well, I don’t think it will help you at all with BMI, but it may help you be a bit healthier. I don’t think you’ll see changes in BMI. Certainly with a lot of women, they want to see changes in BMI. They want to see BMI go down, and this won’t do that.

Basically, she is saying that you will not lose weight by using Wii Fit. I don’t have a degree in nutrition, but weight is a factor in the BMI equation. If you lose weight your BMI will change, so by saying your BMI won’t change she is saying you will not lose weight.

BMI is not a good measurement instrument for weight loss. BMI does not take into account age or lean body mass. Someone that is really muscular will have a high BMI indicating they are fat, which they are not.

There is more that goes into losing weight than just exercising. People need to change their eating habits as well as exercise to notice any kind of weight loss. Video games are not going to help you lose weight. Video games are not going to get your heart rate high enough to burn the calories needed to lose weight. Video games are just that, games. It is great to have a game that gets you off the couch to play it, but it is not going to help you lose the weight as it claims to.

Thanks Game Stooge